“If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be.” - Yogi Berra
When we engage in Chesbon HaNefesh and take stock of our lives, it becomes clear that there are many moments when we fall short of perfection. The reality is, that’s to be expected. There is no expectation of perfection in our lives. Imperfection is “built into the system.” Even our world isn’t perfect. At the completion of the Creation story just before the first Shabbat, God sits back, looks at everything that had been created, and declares it “Tov me’od – very good.” Not perfect; very good. The world doesn’t come closer to perfection until we share in the creative process. That’s why, for example, we offer a blessing over the bread at a meal, “Hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz… who brings forth bread from the earth.” Bread doesn’t come out of the earth directly. It is only formed in the creative partnership between the Divine and humanity through our efforts, our time and our patience.
Reflecting on our lives is a tool for helping us try to get a little closer to perfect in the New Year, even if we can never fully achieve perfection. But just as finishing the work of Creation strengthens our partnership with the Divine, taking time to perfect ourselves at the dawn of a New Year we may also find ourselves closer to God.
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